CALLISAURUS 237 



position makes it possible for them to spring 

 into action at a moment's notice. When ready 

 to run, the whole body is well elevated, the tail 

 flung up over the back, and away they go — 

 mere streaks of white on the silver sand. 



While on the Ralston Desert of Nevada I saw 

 a male and a female making most peculiar and 

 striking flirtations to one another, the two 

 waltzing back and forth before each other in 

 amorous antics much as mocking-birds are 

 wont to do during the mating season. Until I 

 came almost upon them they seemed so en- 

 wrapped in their wooings and waltzings that 

 they did not notice my approach in the least. 

 The movements were exceedingly graceful and 

 full of weird rhythm. 



These lizards are carnivores of a big appetite, 

 and all sorts of tiny creatures, from insects to 

 reptiles, fall victims to their voracity. It is 

 common enough practice for them to turn 

 cannibals and eat their own offspring — rather 

 despicable business, this eating of one's own 

 children, but possibly considered good form in 

 reptiledom. We are glad to learn that at least 

 a part of their food is of a vegetable nature — 



